AUCKLAND – Junior Football Ferns coach John Herdman has told his side to expect a bruising encounter in their FIFA U-20 Women’s’ World Cup opener against Nigeria in Coquimbo, Chile on Thursday morning (NZ time).

With players bigger, taller and physically stronger on average than their kiwi counterparts, Nigeria look to have the edge in attributes New Zealand teams have traditionally relied on, but Herdman is confident his young side will find other areas to exploit.

“I can’t guarantee it’ll be a pretty game. They may be the under 20s but they look like the over 40s,” Herdman said.

“They’ll be fast, strong and it will be a scrappy game at times. Our analysis shows they’ll press you all over the pitch and for 90 minutes and will try to impose themselves down the middle of the park.”

“But we have smart players and looking at Nigeria’s weaknesses I think, tactically, our players have it over them.”

New Zealand are targeting a top two finish – and a quarterfinal spot – from a group that also includes England and World Cup hosts Chile, and Herdman believes a winning start to their campaign is within their grasp.

“Every game at a World Cup is winnable, but we’re going to have to bring our ‘A’ game if we’re to have a chance of beating them.”

“Nigeria are one of the oldest teams here, they’re African champions and have been quarterfinalists in the last last two U-20s, so it’ll be tough. But we’re confident and with belief, anything’s possible.”

While 15 of Herdman’s 21 strong squad have at least one World Cup or Olympic tournament under their belt, Nigeria can give the kiwis a run for their money in their experience stakes, boasting three ‘veterans’ of the recently completed U-17 edition in New Zealand, and four players – including three regular starters – from Nigeria’s Olympic campaign.

Two of those Olympians – Rita Chikwelu and Ulunma Jerome – are entering their third U-20 World Cup – a feat none of the Junior Ferns can match yet, although 15-year-old Rosie White is surely a contender for the future.

White – the hat-trick hero from New Zealand’s winning finish to their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign – will push hard for a starting role up front in a line-up that could feature as many as five U-17s in the walk-on eleven.

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Chile 2008

Group A

New Zealand v Nigeria

Estadio Francisco Sanchez Rumoroso

Coquimbo, Chile

Kick-off: 7am, Thurs 20 November (NZT)

Live on Sky Sports 3

New Zealand: (from) 1-Charlotte WOOD (GK), 2-Caitlin CAMPBELL, 3-Anna GREEN, 4-Katie HOYLE, 5-Bridgette ARMSTRONG, 6-Abby ERCEG, 7-Ria PERCIVAL, 8-Betsy HASSETT, 9-Renee LEOTA, 10-Annalie LONGO, 11-Hannah WALL, 12-Chelsey WOOD, 13-Victoria ESSON (GK), 14-Merissa SMITH, 15-Elizabeth MILNE, 16-Briony FISHER 17 Nicole STRATFORD, 18-Grace VINCENT, 19-Sarah McLAUGHLIN, 20-Rosie WHITE, 21-Rebekah BROOK (GK).

Coach: John HERDMAN

Nigeria: (from) 1-Marbel EGWUENU (GK), 2-Margaret DIKE, 3-Glory IROKA, 4-Chioma NWABUEZE, 5-Esther Eno EDEM, 6-Esther MICHAEL, 7-Tawa ISHOLA, 8-Ebere ORJI, 9-Ogonna CHUKWUDI, 10-Rita CHIKWELU, 11-Bukola SAHEED, 12-Charity JOHN (GK), 13-Sarah MICHAEL, 14-Faustina UGWUADU, 15-Joy JEGEDE, 16-Ulunma JEROME, 17-Helen UKAONU, 18-Rebecca Ifeoma KALU, 19-Esther VICTOR, 20-Chidinma ANORUO, 21-Onyekachi MBALISI (GK).

Coach: Daniel EVUMENA

Story courtesy of NZF Media. For more visit www.nzsoccer.com